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    it will sell out quickly

    Top Mexican chef returns to Houston for intimate tasting menu pop-up

    Eric Sandler
    Sep 9, 2022 | 12:00 pm
    Luis Mercado, Alex Bremont, Paolo Justo Houston pop-up
    Neo chefs Luis Mercado and Paolo Justo (left and right) will team up with the acclaimed Alex Bremont (center) for the intimate pop-up dinners.
    Photo courtesy of Matt Harris/Neo

    A chef who led one of the world’s best restaurants will soon return to Houston for a week-long tasting menu pop-up at one of the city’s most exclusive dining venues. Alex Bremont will collaborate with Neo, the innovative, omakase-style concept in Montrose, on a series of intimate dinners.

    Held from September 26 through October 1, the dinners will see Bremont, who served as head chef at world-renown Mexico City restaurant Pujol for five years, working with Neo chefs Paolo Justo and Luis Mercado on a 14-course meal that blends Mexican ingredients with Japanese techniques. Expect a seafood-forward menu presented in the omakase style where most dishes are eaten by hand.

    Pricing had yet to be finalized by press time, but the chefs expect the cost to exceed the $260 per person Neo typically charges. Instructions for securing a reservation are available by following Neo on Instagram.

    In July, Bremont held a taco pop-up at Tatemó, chef Emmanuel Chavez’s corn-obsessed restaurant and tortilleria. It drew hundreds of Houstonians who stood in line for as long as two hours. This time, the experience will be considerably more intimate, as the Neo counter only seats eight people at a time and the meals will only be served to those lucky enough to score a reservation. The more formal environment is one Bremont knows well.

    “I’ve always loved fine dining. That’s what I’ve been doing for the past 13, 14 years,” Bremont tells CultureMap. “Hooking up with these guys and putting something together with inspiration based on what I do, which is Mexican food that’s been influenced by Japan. I think it’s a perfect match.”

    All three chefs credit the idea of collaborating to Matt Harris, a Houstonian who has visited both Pujol and Neo frequently (he is also a regular co-host on CultureMap’s “What’s Eric Eating” podcast). After Harris and Bremont dined together at Neo in July, he proposed the idea of all three chefs teaming up.

    “I thought it made sense,” Harris says. “Sometimes you don’t have to think about things too hard. They just make sense.”

    “Matt saying, ‘do you want to collaborate with someone you’ve looked up to for 10 years?’ F*ck yeah,” Mercado says. “For us, it’s an honor to share the same space with them.”

    Neo has earned considerable praise, too, including a CultureMap Tastemaker Award for Best Pop-Up/Startup. Mercado and Justo, who worked together at Uchi prior to starting Neo, serve dishes such as seared A5 wagyu with fermented mushroom butter, smoked salmon nigiri with sour cream and onion powder, and chu-toro nigiri with fermented leeks, a dish that Nobie’s chef Martin Stayer told the Houston Chronicle reminded him of a Funyun.

    Mercado cites Bremont as an influence on their approach to Neo’s food. “He always resonates with what we’re trying to achieve with our cuisine: things that look very simple but have a lot of thought and process behind it,” he says. “It looks like a simple piece of fish, but there’s different preparations and techniques we use to enhance the ingredients.”

    The dishes served at the collaboration dinners will be built around Neo’s signature dry-aged fish as well as traditional Mexican forms. For example, the chefs are planning to serve a tetela that’s stuffed with fermented edamame instead of the traditional black beans. Another dish will pair eggplant with recado negro, a paste made with burnt chiles and spices.

    “I’d say it’s a little of both Mexican and Japanese,” Justo adds. “It is very seafood forward. There’s no meat on the menu.”

    “What I think is cool about an omakase format when it comes to Japanese food or back home when we did the taco omakase [at Pujol] is the progression of dishes,” Bremont adds. “You’ll always have a favorite. In the beginning, you’re hit with acidity and freshness then the dishes build.”

    Bremont is working on opening his own restaurant in Mexico City, but the chef has ties to Houston, too. From 2004 to 2014, he worked at a number of local restaurants, including the Hyatt Regency downtown, South American restaurant Samba Grille, and Oxheart. The recent visits have sparked the possibility of a more permanent return.

    “I have the option in my mind of one day opening something in Houston,” he acknowledges. “I spent 10 years of my life living in this great city. The way it’s evolving in terms of gastronomy and talented people is more exciting when it comes to thinking about what could be next.”

    Neo chefs Luis Mercado and Paolo Justo (left and right) will team up with the acclaimed Alex Bremont (center) for the intimate pop-up dinners.

    Luis Mercado, Alex Bremont, Paolo Justo Houston pop-up
    Photo courtesy of Matt Harris/Neo
    Neo chefs Luis Mercado and Paolo Justo (left and right) will team up with the acclaimed Alex Bremont (center) for the intimate pop-up dinners.
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    Where to Eat on New Year's Eve

    25 Houston restaurants celebrating New Year's Eve with caviar, bubbles, and more

    Brianna McClane
    Dec 23, 2025 | 10:30 am
    The Henry restaurant new year's eve
    Photo courtesy of The Henry
    The Henry, one of the city's newest hotel's, invites diners to enjoy a three-course meal that includes chicken frites.

    Whether 2025 was great, awful, or just meh, there’s no reason not to end it on a high note. Houston restaurants are celebrating with indulgent menus featuring caviar, lobster, and steak, along with plenty of bubbly. Food and booze aren’t the only draws — many of these New Year’s Eve celebrations also bring DJs, live music, and even aerial performances into the mix.

    Bari Ristorante
    Life’s a circus at Cirque du Bari, the restaurant’s New Year’s Eve fete, where the adjoining lawn will be transformed into a whimsical experience complete with stilt walkers. A DJ will keep the atmosphere festive until 2 am, with patrons encouraged to “dress to join the circus.” Two dinner seatings are available from 7–7:30 pm and 9:30–10 pm, followed by a champagne toast at midnight.

    Camaraderie
    Find fan favorites and limited features on the menu at Camaraderie, such as roast muscovy duck breast in a cherry and foie gras jus, and a meringata with white truffle gelato and hazelnut praline. Reservations are required to snag this $98 per person curated menu. Seatings are available from 5 pm-10 pm.

    Doc’s Jazz Club
    Montrose’s new jazz club is sending off 2025 with 7 pm and 10 pm performances by Tianna Hall and the Houston Jazz Band. The four-course dinner opens with black-eyed pea soup and a grape-arugula salad, followed by a choice of stuffed pork tenderloin, 6-ounce Black Angus filet, or seared halibut. End on a sweet note with a spiced, red-wine poached pear and cinnamon whipped cream. The 7 pm seating includes a bubbly toast, while those at the 10 pm show will be served a full bottle of bubbles at midnight.

    Eculent
    There’s no reason to settle on just one restaurant for NYE, when you can visit all four of Chef David Skinner’s spots with a $99 “Ticket to Roam.” Patrons can move between eculent, ISHTIA, Meticulous Spirits Distillery, and Clear Creek Winery all in one night, with a hot buffet from 7–10 pm, a dessert bar from 10 pm-12 am, and champagne with party favors at midnight. Cocktails and wine will be available for purchase. The event is 21+ with reservations required.

    Flora Mexican Kitchen
    Toast to the new year at this Buffalo Bayou Park eatery where a live DJ will spin tracks from 8 pm-12 am, with complimentary champagne when the clock strikes midnight. A sparkling disco ball adds to the ambiance.

    Guard and Grace
    The luxurious downtown steakhouse will supplement its regular menu with NYE features, including dry-aged duck breast with foie gras dirty rice, bluefin tuna tataki, steamed crab and lobster wonton, pan-roasted Alaskan halibut, and smoked, bone-in beef short rib with black garlic glaze.

    The Henry at Town & Country Village
    One of Houston’s newest neighborhood restaurants invites diners to welcome 2026 with a three-course meal. Start with decadent bites such as the truffled brie toast, followed by entrees like a Korean prime skirt steak or roasted chicken frites. Dessert brings a chocolate fudge pie, lemon olive oil cake, or a molten butter cake. Priced at $85 per person, with optional wine pairings available as an add on. The Henry is open from 4 pm-12 am.

    Juliet
    Slip into the new year feeling like a spy at this James Bond-inspired, black-tie attire event. “Casino Royale” at Juliet is a $250-per-person celebration with casino-esque games, magicians, entertainment, open bar, and a three-course dinner. Standout dishes include a two-pound lobster thermidor and a 36-ounce tomahawk ribeye (+$150).

    Kitchen Rumors
    This fusion spot in the Arts District is marking New Year’s Eve with a $75 prix fixe menu of flavorful creations like roasted oyster tikka, shrimp ravioli, and beef vindaloo with basmati rice. The fifth and final course offers a choice between carrot halwa cheesecake or chocolate cardamom mousse. Kitchen Rumors is open from 4pm-10pm.

    Little’s Oyster Bar
    Seafood lovers will want to close out 2025 at Little’s Oyster Bar where features include Matagorda Pearl oysters on the half shell with champagne seafoam and Little’s white sturgeon caviar, Red Royal shrimp, lobster bisque, and Yellow Edge grouper. The fixed-price menu is $175 per person, served from 5 pm-10 pm.

    Makiin
    It’s “Midnight in Bangkok” at this Upper Kirby restaurant where live entertainment — like Thai dancers, aerial performance, and DJ — complement a $55, three-course menu. All diners can raise a complimentary pour at midnight. MaKiin is open until 12 am on December 31.

    The Marigold Club
    Goodnight Hospitality's decadent, Mayfair London-inspired French restaurant is celebrating New Year's Eve with a three-course, $175 per person prix fixe menu. Begin with choices such as beef tartare, tuna crudo, or Caesar salad. Entree choices include prime filet, duck Wellington, Dover sole, and lobster Thermidor. Four dessert choices complete the meal. Enhance the experience with additions such as caviar, truffles, and champagne.

    Maximo
    Executive chef Adrian Torres’ progressive Mexican cuisine is the star of Maximo’s NYE show. Smoked pork belly, masa cornbread with white truffle and caviar, and corn puree Basque cheesecake are just a few of the offerings on the five-course, $85 prix fixe menu. Add cocktail and wine pairings for an additional $45. Maximo will open at 5 pm on New Year’s Eve with a last seating at 10 pm, and return to regular service and menus on Thursday, January 1.

    Milton’s
    Say “Buon Anno” with a five-course feast at Milton’s. The curated dinner starts at $150 per person, with optional wine pairings available for $75. Find favorites such as the housemade sourdough tagliatelle with shaved black truffle, and a seafood risotto with poached lobster.

    Murray’s Pizza and Wine
    Raise a slice of pizza to the year’s end at this recently-opened pizzeria. The prix fixe menu features small plates and three limited-edition pizzas: caviar and with Norwegian salmon that's hot-smoked in house; duck confit pizza with roasted red grapes; and a truffle-wild mushroom pizza with a garlic cream sauce and salsa verde.

    North Italia
    Why not finish the year off with a sampling of new dishes? The restaurant’s three-course menu for NYE includes staples such as the Sicilian meatballs, alongside new creations like smoked prosciutto chicken parmesan and a lobster mezzaluna with tiger shrimp in a white vodka sauce. Pricing starts at $75 per diner.

    Pappas Bros. Steakhouse
    The Houston institution invites patrons to bid adieu to the year with a $150, four-course menu. Lobster deviled eggs, grilled double cut lamb chops, and “turtle” mousse tart are on the menu, as is the restaurant’s signature 16-ounce, prime ribeye. Both the Galleria and the downtown locations will host the celebration.

    Sol 7 at the Thompson Hotel
    Soar up to the seventh floor of the Thompson Hotel for Sol 7’s $70, three-course menu. Patrons can take in the restaurant’s downtown views while dishes of miniature crab cake with remoulade, a compressed melon carpaccio salad, and a red wine braised short rib are delivered to the table. A banana rum cake completes the meal. For those who want to continue the celebration, the hotel is offering a “Let’s Party” in-room decor package that includes a bottle of Veuve Clicquot.

    State of Grace
    Join chef Ryan Lachaine at this River Oaks-staple for a four-course, $145 per person dinner. Everyone starts with house baked bread, served with butter and caviar, before choosing one of five starters such as raw oysters, chili crab, or yellowfin tuna crudo. Entree options include char sui-style duck breast, mushroom risotto, prime filet, or dry-aged cote du boeuf ($49 supplement) and are paired with shared sides including black-eyed peas. Add wine pairings for $65 or $125.

    Street to Kitchen
    James Beard Award-winning chef Benchawan Jabthong Painter and her husband Graham Painter invite diners to join them for a surprise menu that features multiple courses showcasing "unapologetically Thai sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and spicy flavors." Priced at $100, the meal begins at 7 pm with a cocktail hour at 6 pm. Reserve seats via Street to Kitchen's website.

    Succulent Fine Dining
    The Regent Square restaurant is capping off its first year in Houston with music from DJ Sound and Vision and a seven-course prix fixe menu. From the $125 per person menu, expect entrees like a poached halibut cheek with butter-braised leeks, and a pepper-crusted, 1855 Farms prime rib. The regular dinner menu will also be available. Succulent Fine Dining is open from 5 pm-12 am.

    Turner's Cut
    Those looking to splurge may want to indulge in the seven-course tasting menu at this ultra-posh steakhouse in Autry Park. Priced at $2,026 per couple, it includes selections such as a caviar tartlet paired with champagne; lobster ravioli paired with more champagne; both an American wagyu strip and a Japanese wagyu filet; and a welcome cocktail made with Rémy Martin 1738. A toast with Louis XIII cognac ends the meal. Live music, party favors, and a midnight balloon drop complete the experience.

    Uchi and Uchiko
    New Year’s Eve is an intimate affair at Uchi, where diners can reserve a $400 omakase experience for two. Selections include Siberian caviar service, A5 wagyu gyutoro, and bluefin akami. The restaurant’s sister restaurant, Uchiko, is also offering an omakase for two at $350. The regular menu will be available at both restaurants on NYE, but no happy hour or to-go orders will be. Reservations are available from 4 pm-11 pm.

    The Woodlands Resort
    2025 is going out big in the ‘burbs with a 14-piece live band and a buffet-style dinner at the Woodlands Resort. The festivities kick off with a champagne welcome and passed appetizers, with a live DJ cranking out tunes before a confetti countdown at midnight. Tickets are $150 per person and can be purchased via Eventbrite. “Midnight Noir” at The Woodlands Resort is from 7 pm-1:30 am.

    The Henry restaurant new year's eve

    Photo courtesy of The Henry

    The Henry, one of the city's newest hotel's, invites diners to enjoy a three-course meal that includes chicken frites.

    news-you-can-eatnew years eveholidays
    news/restaurants-bars

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